Yakima Sheriff’s Office Warns of Seasonal Call Scams

As the Christmas season kicks into high gear, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office is warning residents to be on alert for holiday-themed scams targeting unsuspecting victims.

HERE COMES THE SCAM MARATHON

In a recent post on their Facebook page, officials dubbed it the "holiday season scam call marathon," emphasizing that scammers are working overtime to take advantage of the busy, trusting spirit of the holidays. The post highlights the tactics scammers use, saying they often try to scare or intimidate targets to prevent them from hanging up. Their goal? To persuade victims to hand over money quickly, taking advantage of the holiday goodwill and perhaps financial stress.

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OLD SCAMS COME BACK BECAUSE THEY WORK

Deputies say the scams are not new and that old tricks resurface every year. Common scam calls include false claims about jury duty, legal issues, holiday fundraisers, or impersonations of government officials. If someone receives an unexpected call asking for money-regardless of the reason-they're advised to ignore and hang up immediately.

SOME HELPFUL TIPS TO FOLLOW

To help residents protect themselves, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office shared several tips:

Block Scam Calls: Mobile carriers offer apps and resources to block scam calls, robocalls, and spam. Contact your carrier or visit their website for assistance.
Report Unwanted Texts: Forward unsolicited texts to 7726 (SPAM) to report robotexts.
File Complaints: Report scams and unwanted calls to the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
Register on the Do Not Call List: Sign up at donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register. If you have questions about legitimate charities check these websites. 'charitynavigator.org' and the BBB's 'give.org' are good places to confirm whether an organization is authentic.